NORTHERN RIVERS BOYS CARRY THE
connor.o’brien@news.com.au switch from secondrow to the centres as is widely expected. Aubusson is a Ballina product, as is halfback Tyrone Roberts and winger Brian Kelly.
The other jerseys between No.1 and No.7 are made up of fullback Michael Gordon (Tweed Coast), winger Anthony Don (Grafton), centre Cheyse Blair (Bilambil) and five-eighth Cody Walker (Casino). Former Murwillumbah junior-turned-representative forward Anthony Laffranchi said there is a wealth of talent on offer across the area’s bush footy clubs.
“I wouldn’t know the number of NRL players that have come out of that area but it is such a great area and it is a big area for talent,” he said, adding the game “brought everyone together” there.
Laffranchi is these days the Gold Coast Titans football manager and is certainly not turning a blind eye to Northern Rivers, where the club has established academies.
“It’s something that we as the Titans really earmark as a great catchment area for us,” he said.